After the four-time U.S. champion's spectacular meltdown in the short program of the team competition, he left the athletes' village and checked into a hotel. Instead of doing what he wants, when he wants, as he did when he was in the village, coach Yuka Sato and trainer Britta Ottoboni are in charge of his schedule.

"I was a little too laid back, relaxed and mushy," Abbott said Tuesday. "From now on, Yuka and Britta are my puppeteers. They're pulling the strings."

Abbott has a long history of struggles with his psyche, particularly at world championships and the Olympics. He can be absolutely brilliant at the U.S. championships, only to look like a human Zamboni two months later when the world is watching.

The Americans wound up with the bronze medal, rallying behind Meryl Davis and Charlie White, Ashley Wagner and Gracie Gold.

"The short program was a disappointment," Abbott said. "But I think it was kind of exactly what I needed looking forward. Like I said, I was extremely upset that I did that for my team. … I felt like I let the team down.

"(But) it made me really look at how I was structuring the competition and how I was approaching it mentally," he said. "We've restructured this games so it's much more normal for me."

As a second-time Olympian, Abbott knew what to expect when he got to the athlete village. But he still found himself caught up in it, hanging out with friends and not sticking to his schedule. He wasn't doing anything terrible, and he was fine when he was at the practice rink.

But he'd lollygag on his way to breakfast. Miss the bus he planned to take. Find himself speed walking so he wouldn't be late.

"Living in the village feels like Neverland. Time doesn't exist and you feel like a kid forever," Abbott said. "It's an amazing feeling, but it wasn't conducive to my needs."

Marissa Castelli and Simon Shnapir (USA) react in the kiss and cry area after performing in the figure skating team pairs short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford (CAN) react with teammates in the kiss and cry area after performing in the figure skating team pairs short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Peng Cheng and Zhang Hao (CHN) in the kiss and cry area after performing in the figure skating team pairs short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. 20140206_jla_usa_442.jpg Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Maylin Wende and Daniel Wende (GER) kiss after performing in the figure skating team pairs short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

Narumi Takahashi and Ryuichi Kihara (JPN) in the kiss and cry area after performing in the figure skating team pairs short program during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Chan (CAN) sits in the kiss and cry area with his teammates after performing during the figure skating team men short program in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Iceberg Skating Palace. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports